nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, february 28, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (15.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1) surged to the top spot on Tuesday with a special two-hour Tuesday edition of "American Idol" (15.84 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1).

CBS (14.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "NCIS" (18.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) - a season low, "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) and "Unforgettable" (9.93 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6) - a series low.

Next up was NBC (5.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with a new "The Biggest Loser 13" (5.69 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5) - likewise a season low - followed by the season finale of "Parenthood" (5.13 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its combination of "Last Man Standing" (7.38 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4), "Cougar Town" (4.30 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8), "The River" (4.09 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8) - all of which were series lows - and "Body of Proof" (6.75 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10).

And finally, a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (0.89 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and a new "Ringer" (1.11 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) on The CW (1.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.3 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+11.76% - Parenthood
+6.90% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Unforgettable
-4.55% - Last Man Standing
-7.14% - Body of Proof
-10.53% - NCIS
-11.76% - Cougar Town
-11.76% - The River
-13.04% - The Biggest Loser 13
-20.00% - Ringer

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+25.00% - Cougar Town (vs. No Ordinary Family)
0.00% - Parenthood
-3.13% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-10.53% - NCIS
-13.64% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-16.67% - The Biggest Loser 13
-16.67% - The River (vs. V)
-22.84% - American Idol (vs. American Idol/Raising Hope)
-33.33% - Ringer (vs. Hellcats)
-59.38% - Body of Proof (vs. 20/20 - Charlie Sheen: In His Own Words)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.0/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/1/11):

FOX (18.14 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1) reaped the rewards of a special 90-minute "American Idol" (21.26 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.5, #1) on Tuesday as lead-out "Raising Hope" (8.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) was pushed to a series high.

CBS (15.37 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) then got bumped to second place with its usual mix of "NCIS" (19.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.59 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4) and "The Good Wife" (11.31 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7).

Next up was NBC (6.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (7.03 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6) and "Parenthood" (5.04 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8).

Meanwhile, ABC (6.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up fresh installments of "No Ordinary Family" (4.26 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10) and "V" (5.00 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9) followed by a special "20/20 - Charlie Sheen: In His Own Words" (9.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11) and "Hellcats" (1.47 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) on The CW (1.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Raising Hope (36.00%), The Good Wife (15.80%), Hellcats (0.00%), V (-5.30%), Parenthood (-9.50%), One Tree Hill (-11.10%), The Biggest Loser (-11.10%), NCIS (-13.60%), No Ordinary Family (-14.30%), NCIS: Los Angeles (-17.90%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.5/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.3/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research